As a little kid studying in 6th standard, I was keenly watching the news on TV of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in the New York City on 11th Sep, 2001. The event was telecasted again and again on the news channels and it was really a horrific sight to see the twin towers collapsing like a pack of cards. I was so moved by the news that on the way to school on 12th September morning, I distinctly remember mentioning that incident to my fellow school mates in the school bus, most of who were just unaware about such a big attack.
I am sure that sometime in your life, you must have watched the clips of twin towers being hit by the hijacked planes over and over again. One can never forget those clips. The sheer scale of the attack, and that too in the heart of New York City, in the world’s most powerful country shook the entire world to the core! It brought out in the open one of the deadliest forms of terrorisms which spread its tentacles to the developed world as well. Now, no country could claim itself as immune from the scourge of terrorism! And although these attacks, per se, didn’t make the world a less safe place, however it brought about the harsh realization that terrorism doesn’t spare any country and it could hit anyone, anywhere and anytime.
The perceptions about the use of violence and force by inciting fear in the minds of people to achieve political objectives began to change. Earlier, some nations used the perpetrators of terrorism to achieve their “national interests”, elsewhere in the world (even now some are using them). However, the fundamental premise of being immune from them while using against other nations began to dilute. If you create a Frankenstein monster like terrorism whose tentacles are numerous far and wide, then you cannot predict what shape the monster will take in the future! The monster could even turn rogue and even try to kill its own master!
This incident galvanized the countries across the world to discuss and debate the debilitating effects of terrorism and the need to develop global consensus on the same. The International Convention is yet to see the light of the day, however the incident and its aftermath strengthened India’s moral fight against all forms of terrorism. As a beacon of peace and non-violence, India stands firm in its resolution against elimination of terrorism. Hopefully, the other countries will take lesson from the past terrorist attacks globally, and build consensus to eliminate one of the biggest threats of the human kind i.e. terrorism.
For a more peaceful and a safer world ✌️
A drone show illuminated the skies over New York Harbor Wednesday night as part of a tribute marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks. (Source- abc7ny.com)
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